2nd AY 2012-13/Philosophy of the Person Dr. Noelle Leslie dela Cruz/Associate Professor, Philosophy Department Email address: avalon.rain@gmail.

com Telephone number: 524-4611 local 546 (Philosophy Department, William Hall 505) Consultation hours: 9am- 12 noon, MWTH (by prior arrangement please) Date Sept. 12 (W) Topic/activity 1. Overview of the course and requirements Lecture: Thinking philosophically about the person: Issues, themes, and contexts 2. Existential phenomenology Lecture: A review of the philosophical method and concepts about human existence 3. What is a person? Criteria and definitions 4. What is the self? Cartesian and anti-Cartesian views 4.1 Descartes: The Cogito and mind-body dualism 4.2 Lecture: Hume on the self as a bundle of impressions and Buddhism on the self as an illusion 4.3 A contemporary view: Dennett on the origins of selves and the idea of narrativity Activity: Mapping the boundaries of (my) "self" 5. Am I free? Free will and determinism 5.1 Sartre on the person as nothingness or pour-soi Submission of paper no. 1 on Sartre 5.2 Lecture: The person according to theories of the unconscious: Freud and Jung 6. What is an authentic existence? Existentialist views on the individual in/and society 6.1 Kierkegaard on the knight of faith Continuation of discussion "The Origins of Selves" by Daniel C. Dennett "Human and Animal Consciousness" by Noelle Leslie dela Cruz "The Rationalist: Rene Descartes," Chapter 9 of Archetypes of Wisdom by David Soccio Reading assignment

Sept. 17 (M)

Sept. 19 (W) Sept. 24 (M)

Sept. 26 (W) Oct. 1 (M) Oct. 3 (W) Oct. 8 (M)

"Existentialism is a Humanism" by Jean-Paul Sartre

Oct. 10 (W) Oct. 15 (M)

"The Existentialist: Soren Kierkegaard," Chapter 14 of Archetypes of Wisdom by David Soccio

Oct. 17 (W)

Oct. 22 (M) Oct. 24 (W) Oct. 29 (M) Oct. 31 (W) Nov. 5 (M) Nov. 7 (W) Nov. 12 (M) Nov 14 (W) Nov. 19 (M)

6.2 Nietzsche on the ubermensch

"The Anti-Philosopher: Friedrich Nietzsche," Chapter 16 of Archetypes of Wisdom by David Soccio

Nov. 21 (W) Nov. 26 (M)

Nov. 28 (W) Dec. 3 (M)

Dec. 5 (W) Dec. 10 (M) Dec. 12-18 Dec. 20 Dec. 21 Final grade:

Continuation of discussion Midterm exam Free day: Reading break for The Metamorphosis 6.3 Kafka on alienation The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Submission of paper no 2 on Kafka Activity: Representing Gregor Samsa Film-viewing: Interview with the Vampire, part I Film-viewing: Interview with the Vampire , part II 7. Who is the Other? Existentialist views on the self-other relation Lecture: Sartre on the look of the Other; Sartrean themes in Interview with the Vampire No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre Discussion of Sartre's play Submission of paper no. 3 on No Exit 8. Does life have meaning? Existentialist views on absurdity, despair, and death 8.1 Camus' existentialist revolt "Albert Camus: Life is Absurd" - pp. 546-551 of Philosophy: The Quest for Truth , 6th edition, ed. by Louis Pojman Activity: To push (the rock), or not to push? 8.2 Heidegger on being-towards-death "Death and Authenticity" by Julian Young, Chapter 11 of Death and Philosophy ed. by Malpas & Solomon Submission of paper no. 4 on Heidegger Activity: My bucket list Discussion of pre-final grades and status Finals week Online submission of final grades Grades consultation day Class participation (activities and recitation) - 25% Reflection papers - 25% Midterm exam - 25% Final paper - 25%